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PILOT: |
Let's go inside. It's quiet inside. |
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MARTIN: |
Good idea. |
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MARTIN: |
Where are we? |
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PILOT: |
We're in the elevator. It goes to the recreation area. We can get a
cup of coffee there and talk quietly. |
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MARTIN: |
Is
there a recreation area? |
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PILOT: |
Haven't you been below deck? |
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MARTIN: |
No,
I haven't. Tell me about it. What does everyone do? Tell me all
about this oil rig. |
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PILOT: |
I
can't tell you all about it. I'm just a helicopter pilot. We'll ask
some of the workers. They can tell you what they do. |
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MARTIN: |
Where is the rig exactly? |
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PILOT: |
We're in the Gulf of Mexico, about one hundred miles from Texas and
Mexico. This is called an offshore rig. The workers on the rig are
drilling for oil in the Gulf. |
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MARTIN: |
Is
that like drilling for oil on land? |
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PILOT: |
I
think so. We can ask the men working here. You have all these
machines and equipment drilling for oil, but we are in the middle of
all this water. |
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MARTIN: |
Do
the men live here? |
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PILOT: |
Yes. For a short time. Then they have vacation at their homes on
land. That's one of the things I do. I take them back and forth to
land. It's like going to a job in another city. |
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MARTIN: |
Or
like going away to school. You live in a dormitory, away from your
family and other friends. |
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PILOT: |
The
men are older than school boys. |
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MARTIN: |
Does the rig stay here when they find oil? |
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PILOT: |
Not
this rig. This is a drilling rig. When they find oil, this rig goes
to another place. They bring another rig for pumping the oil. The
work is different. |
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MARTIN: |
Do
some men live on that rig? |
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PILOT: |
Yes, a smaller number of men live on that rig. |
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MARTIN: |
The
rig has to be very strong, doesn't it? |
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PILOT: |
Of
course. There are many storms here. The rig must be very strong.
Here we are. This is the recreation room. |
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MARTIN: |
The
rig
looks very comfortable. |
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PILOT: |
It's not bad. I don't stay here very long. |
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MARTIN: |
What is your job? |
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PILOT: |
I
pilot the helicopter. That's it. I fly from Texas or Louisiana to
the rig. Then I go back. I bring men, supplies, equipment, whatever
is needed. I take the workers back and forth. I fly the owners here
to the rig sometimes. I carry the supervisors back to meetings.
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MARTIN: |
Is
there a lot of flying? |
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PILOT: |
Every day. People go back and forth all the time. There is always
something to carry. |
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MARTIN: |
Why
doesn't the company use a boat? Isn't that cheaper? |
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PILOT: |
They do use boats. They bring fuel by boat. They need some things in
a hurry. Equipment breaks. They need someone to repair the
equipment. He works in Louisiana, not here. So I go to get him.
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MARTIN: |
What about food? Do you bring the food? |
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PILOT: |
Yes. The men have very good food. I bring videos for entertainment.
It's something different every day. Would you like to take a tour of
the rig? |
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MARTIN: |
I
would like that very much. |
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PILOT: |
I'll find a supervisor. |
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MARTIN: |
Thanks. That was very interesting. May I ask some questions about
being a pilot? |
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PILOT: |
Sure. Do you want a drink? We didn't have our cup of coffee. |
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MARTIN: |
Yes. Let's go back to the recreation room. Can we get coffee there? |
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PILOT: |
Sure. |
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MARTIN: |
Where is the recreation room? |
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PILOT: |
Follow me. |
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